Focusing means for headlights



W. DA. RYAN FOGUSING MEANS FOR HEADLIGHTS Filed August 5, 1922 Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

Uhll'lli` STATES "WALTER DARCY RYAN, SCHENECTADY, NEWv YORK.

FOGUSING MEANS FR "HEADLIGI-ITS.

Application filed Au gust My invention relates to headlights and has for its object to produce easily operated and positively functioning means for forward and rearward and also vertical adjustment of the lamp with its relation to the reflector, for securing` the desired focusing of the light rays. y

My invention consists of the details `of construction hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of my iniprovement. v

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the same.

Fig. t is a cross sectional view talren on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference immoral is used to indicate a reflector casing and 11 a hollow shaf which extends centrally through, and is secured to the reflector' and terminated in an enlarged head 12, which sur 1ounds the opening in the reflector. the said hollow shaft, at its forward end, is slightly concaved, thus causing it to provide a larger, and a concaved, opening at the forward end of the shaft, than the opening in the remaining portion of the shaft. Into the opening in this shaft (which I will call the outer shaft) is inserted a second hollow shaft 14 (which I will call the intermediate Shaft) its forward end having an enlarged head 13 designed to be seated in the enlarged concated hollow portion of the outer shaft, the inner end of the intermediate shaft tapering` toward the end and being slotted longitudinally and also provided with screw threads on its outer surface. A screw threaded cap 1.5 engages the screw threads on the shaft. Set screws 16 and 17,

' oppositely disposed, pass through the walls of the outer shaft, their inner ends being designed to engage the wall 4of the intermediate shaft and firmly hold it in position.

A third hollow shaft 18 (which I will call the inner shaft) is thrust through the intermediate shaft, the jaw of the intermediate shaft (at its rear end) having been opened by rotating the screw cap outwardly, and the screw cap is then rotated inwardly thus clamping the jaws on the The inner surface ofV 5, 1922. Serial No. 579,800.

shaft 18 and holding it in place. This shaft 18 carries a light socket 19 at its forward In practical operation if it is desired toY advance or retard the lamp socket the cap 15 is rotated and moved outwardly. The shaft 14: tapers, as shown, at its outer end, and the said tapered portion is screw threaded, and the cap 15 engages said threads. The said shaft at this endis also channeled and as the cap` 15 is moved outwardly on the shaft, the ends of the shaft are removed from the pressure supplied by the cap and slightly expand. As these jaws open it releases the clamp on the shaft 18 which can then be moved inwardly or outwardly at will and secured in any desired position by simply rotating the cap 15 inwardly. If it is desired to give the lamp a Vertical tilting movement, one of the set screws 16 or 17 is retarded and the other advanced until the shaft 14 is securely locked in the desired position.

The set screws 20 and 21 function as pivots for the head 13 when adjustment is ac complished by the operation of the screws 16 and 17.

Various minor changes may be made in the construction of my device with-out departing from my invention for my drawings simply illustrate the preferred form and I therefore do not wish to be limited in the scope of my protect-ion except as by the` appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A .focusing means for headlights comprising a hollow inner shaft, a socket supported thereby, a current carrying wire passing therethrough; a second hollow shaft provided with a tapering, slotted and screw threaded outer end, slidably receiving the first mentioned shaft; a screw threaded cap to engage the screw threaded end of the second shaft; an enlarged head on said second shaft; a third hollow shaft to receive the first two mentioned shafts and provided with concave portion or seat to receive the enlarged head on the second mentioned shaft7 means at the rear of the third shaft engaging the second shaft to cause a pivoting movement of the head in its seat, a relector, and. means to secure the outermost shaft to the reflector.

2. An adjustable focusing means for headlights comprising a reflector; a hollow shaft secured thereto, there being an enlargement at the inner end and'in the inner surface of said shaft; an intermediate shaft, also hollow, within the outer shaft7 having an enlarged head which seats within the concave portion of the outer shaft; oppositely disposed adjusting screws passing through the wall of the outer shaft and engaging the outer wall of the intermediate sha-ft; oppostely disposed pivot screws, at right angles to the adjusting screws, extending through the wall of the outer shaft and into the enlarged head of the intermediate shaft7 forming a pivot to control the vertical tilting movement of the intermediate shaft within the outer shaft, said intermediate shaft also being provided with a tapering screw threaded and slotted outer end; a cap to engage the screw threads on the said shaft; an inner shaft slidably mounted in the intermediate shaft, its movement being controlled by the clamping of the cap on the screw threaded end of the intermediate shaft7 and a lamp socket on said inner shaft.

8. A focusing means for headlights comprising a hollow shaft to receive current carrying wires and also supporting a-socket; an intermediate hollow shaft, surrounding the inner shaft, and provided with a tapering, slotted and screw threaded outer end; a screw threaded cap to ride on said screw threads; an enlarged head on the said intermediate shaft; an outer hollow shaft-provided with a concave portion to receive the enlarged head of the intermediate shaft; means to secure the outer shaft to the re- Hector; oppositely disposed adjusting screws in the outer shaft` their ends engaging the intermediate shaft; oppositely disposed pivot screws in the outer shaft to engage the enlarged head of the intermediate shaft, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

WALTER DARCY RYAN. 

